I suspect that, in practice, what many enthusiastic advocates mean by “learning AI” is actually “learning to need AI”.

In other words, the aim is to get kids used to using AI as soon as possible, so that they do not learn the skills to function without depending on it.

If you’re smart AI saves you time getting to something you could probably achieve anyway. If you’re… not smart… then it will be a necessary crutch for you to get through life.

I can see the angle for making sure kids start using it before they develop the skills to become independent of it.